Follow the Fader

Opening Ceremony Tokyo Is Best Store Ever?

Having spent plenty of time (and plenty of nonexistent money) at both Opening Ceremony NYC and LA, and having spent a little bit of time and what seemed like a little bit of money (pre-conversion) in Shibuya, the idea of an Opening Ceremony in Shibuya was simultaneously terrifying and glorious. If you haven't been to OC in the US, both locations are of a decent, yet relatively modest size for stores carrying so many desirable items. Colette in Paris is comparable, but OC doesn't bother with gadgets or crafts and its price tags aren't nearly as shock-inducing. If you haven't been to Shibuya, there are high-rise malls catering specifically to teenage girls with dozens of stores specializing in the narrowest niches, like Madonna circa "Like A Virgin" or That One Girl From The "Hip Hop Hooray" Video. Shit is crazy. And awesome. And makes you want to buy things. It's like Swine Flu only instead of a runny nose, you go broke and have to return something just to get back to the airport.

Opening Ceremony Tokyo opened yesterday and is a combination of both these threads: a carefully curated boutique the size of K-Mart. It is eight stories putting on display all that is wonderful about OC owners Humberto Leon and Carol Lim and drew a crowd of frenzied shoppers and celebrities, including the first solo performance by Julian Casablancas. We had some friends there and they suck. Just kidding, they are awesome, but we are crazily jealous, yet still thankful because a trip like that would've broken our families for generations. Check out some photos at Opening Ceremony blog and a firsthand wrap-up on Everything Is Annoying. And by all means, if you make it over there at some point, feel free to pick up a little something (everything) for us.